Alteration of plasmalogens in erythrocytes of patients with diabetic retinopathy

Purpose Plasmalogens are phospholipids characterized by a vinyl ether bond and the preferential esterification of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). We have shown that the lack of plasmalogens leads to abnormal retinal vascularisation. Because we hypothesize that plasmalogens are negative regulators of vascular development, we aimed to check their circulating levels in patients having a retinal pathology with vascular proliferation. Methods Blood samples were collected from 4 control subjects and 42 patients having proliferative or non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (DR). Patients were classified according to the stage of DR. The plasmalogen content and the fatty acid composition of er…